Council budgets: Angus told it has a spending plan for the future

A budget guaranteeing the future of the county was the message from Angus Council's finance spokesman.

The headquarters of Angus Council in Forfar.

By Graham Brown
Published in the Courier : 10.02.12
Published online : 10.02.12 @ 03.49pm

Against a programme of savings totalling more than £6 million, corporate services convener Mark Salmond delivered a string of spending announcements with the community thread running strongly through them.

They included confirmation of a £12 million funding figure for a proposed Forfar community pool and leisure hub which is aimed to become a reality within five years.

For the second year in succession the coalition Alliance budget was devoid of major controversy, managing to produce cash which could even support Thomas the Tank engine and the arrival of a wartime Spitfire in the district.

As Angus heads towards crucial local elections in which the Scottish National Party will be determinedly focused on regaining control in their one-time local government stronghold, the ruling coalition lauded its record of the past five years.

Leading Alliance administration figures said the prudent approach of their term of office had delivered new schools or the county, the first council homes in two decades and record levels of roads investment.

And roads will continue to feature strongly in the 12 months ahead, with £1.5 million set aside to devise a fresh strategy for tackling the area's potholed routes and further six-figure investment to deal with road sweeping and gully clearing.

But the consistent theme of Montrose councillor Mr Salmond's 37-minute budget speech was bringing communities on board.

He revealed a new £200,000 pot to support volunteer-run tourist gems in the district, pledged to back skatepark plans in Arbroath and Carnoustie to the tune of £30,000 each if they play their own part in bringing their scheme to fruition and £40,000 for the regeneration of Montrose town centre.
SNP critics claimed the budget deal was packed with sweeteners to keep the Angus burghs on board ahead of the crucial events at the ballot box in May.

He said the authority's 2012/13 budget was delivered through four main strands to bridge a funding gap of more than £7.25m.

"Firstly, we continued to improve efficiency, with over 40% of the departmental savings cashable efficiencies,'' said the Montrose councillor. ''Secondly, by increasing income levels we have reduced the savings needed from other budget strands by 13%. Thirdly, continuing management of reducing staff numbers and therefore staff costs accounts for £3.6m, or 59% of the departmental savings, and finally, our more focused review of service delivery has helped achieve the balance of savings required.

''We will never shy away from looking at where any efficiency can be achieved, in every aspect of the running of Angus Council,'' he said.

''In our budget consultation, Angus residents opposed a reduction in the number of visiting specialist teachers in primary schools and the slowing down of road maintenance, so these proposals were dropped and did not feature in this year's budget.

''In fact overall funding for roads maintenance has been increased. We have maintained the record £15.4m investment in the county's roads infrastructure and this year £1.5m of that is earmarked to accelerate the permanent treatment of potholes.''

The popular attractions of Montrose Air Station Museum and Brechin's Caledonian Railway are possible beneficiaries of what Mr Salmond described as two new ''survive and thrive'' funds, totalling £1.4m and aimed at supporting community led events and attractions.

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